CES in brief: The year of 3D

Xeni Jardin 9:15 am Thu Jan 7, 2010

Ten years ago, much of the excitement at CES and in Hollywood involved the possibilities of digital cinema and television. This week in Vegas, it's all about 3D.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer described it as "the next great consumer experience," and was joined on stage by previously Kanye-bashed pop star Taylor Swift, whose performance was then streamed live in 3D.

Earlier this week, Sony announced a joint venture with Discovery Communications and IMAX to create a new 24-hour 3D channel, to launch next year. ESPN promises to use Sony pro HD cameras to capture sporting events for a new 3D sports channel which will launch in June, coinciding with the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Sony, Samsung, LG and Toshiba all unveiled 3D HDTVs, and related 3D offerings. But Panasonic's VT25 flat-screen HDTVs will actually include the funny glasses.

The Panasonic press conference Wednesday opened with a live broadcast from Osaka, Japan, of company president Fumio Ohtsubo,using an HD visual communications system.

"How do I look?," his high-def streamed likeness asked the audience. He then introduced Panasonic's new $21,000 HD 3D pro camcorder: two lenses and a camera head integrated into one body. More on the Panasonic 3D hub.

Related reading today: Gizmodo's 3D Primer, a NYT item on 3D television, and Engadget digs into the Panasonic 3D offerings.

Previously: CES in brief: Tablets galore

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